Chelmsford's Parker Middle School Gets Full Kitchen Makeover

CHELMSFORD, MA — The kitchen at Parker Middle School in Chelmsford is getting a full makeover, switching from offering prepared, grab-and-go lunches to cooking from scratch and providing students with healthier options.

The Parker Middle School kitchen, rebranded to 'The Hungry Lion Café," has been completely refurbished with new appliances and equipment, including walk-in and portable refrigeration units, high-speed ovens, beverage and meal coolers, mobile buffet stations, a deli meat cutter, and storage racks. The café also has a fresh coat of paint and new murals and tables.

“It’s a brand new kitchen top to bottom,” said Chelmsford Public Schools Nutrition Director Nancy Antolini in a statement. “It will run more efficiently. We’ll have more cooking from scratch and more food options. We’re state-of-the-art."

“Last year was all grab-and-go (lunches),” she added. “We worked on the Parker kitchen all last year to make sure it will be run correctly. I am all about scratch cooking. I love being in the kitchen.”

Students will now have four food lines to choose from , including the main lunch line, a pizza line with chicken wings and other snack bites, a salad bar, and a delicatessen bar. In addition families will not be charged for regular breakfast and lunch during the 2021-22 school year, according to theU.S. Department of Agriculture.

“It’s going to be great to see the kids have more options and more healthy options,” said Parker Middle School Principal Jeffrey Parks in a statement. “They’re fired up to come back. I’m excited to get more of the staff to take advantage of the options there too.”

This upgrade is part of a series of improvements to nutrition and food service operations at Chelmsford schools. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, each of the town's four elementary schools received kitchen upgrades.

Chelmsford's 2021-22 school year begins on Tuesday, August 31 for grades 1-9, and Wednesday, September 1 for grades 10-12.